Climate Change is Already Impacting Birds’ Migration Patterns

Climate Change is Already Impacting Birds’ Migration Patterns

According to a study published yesterday in Nature, climate change has already affected the migration patterns of some birds.

Bird migration relies on photoperiod, which is the amount of daylight present. What researchers observed was that while most of the 48 species of birds kept pace with the earlier “green-up” periods, nine of the species did not (accounting for about 20% of those observed). Scientists used both satellite and citizen-gathered data to make these observations over a twelve year period.

While the timing of the birds’ arrival may seem arbitrary at first glance, it can have an extremely negative effect on bird populations. Birds can freeze, and newly hatched birds may not have as much food available to them as they normally would. Additionally, birds who arrive late may not have as many nesting sites available.

What’s more is the effect this has on plants, the animals and insects that feed on plants, the birds themselves, and animals/insects that rely on birds as a food source. According to the study, birds’ arrivals are increasingly lagging behind the green-up period, affecting countless other animals/insects.

While the study admits that the green-up period does not necessarily have a direct correlation to the availability of food, it is a strong indicator.

This study serves as yet another piece of evidence that not only is climate change real, but it’s having a tangible impact on the plants and animals around us. And since we’re at the top of the food chain, eventually it will effect us, too.